Hydraulic latch control mechanism



Patented Dec. 28, 1948 Original application June 29, 1943, Serial No. 492,745. Divided and this application October 28, 1944, Serial No. 560,869

My invention relates to a mechanism for controlling any device which is operated hydraulically and which, for example, may contain a master cylinder having a hydraulic latch for the same. The present application is a division of my application upon Self-contained hydraulic servo mechanism, Ser. No. 492,745, filed June 29, 1943. The object of my invention is to provide a hy draulic mechanism of the above character which may be used for any desired purpose but, which, ber 30I, adjacent to longitudinal ports 302 comfor example, is applicable especially for the conmunicating with a U-shaped lip seal inlet valve trol of automotive vehicles, airplanes, steam en-- sealing ring 303 held in place by a retaining ring gines, steering gears or locomotive reverse gears, 304 which abuts against a shoulder 305 in the For this purpose, furthermore, I mayutilize, also, cylinder 291, which in turn leads into an annular a self-latching construction which has fast and chamber 306 forming a part of the hydraulic latch accurate metering characteristics. Also, the chamber 291, leading to an air bleeder port 301 master cylinders used are provided with suitable normally closed by an air bleeder screw 308 of liquid compensation in order to maintain the the usual construction. Within the bushing 299 phase relation between the control means and there is a sleeve plunger 309 provided at one end the output means. 20 with a screw cap 3H). Adjacent to the screw cap Further objects of my invention will appear 3l0 there are radial ports 3 in the sleeve plunger from the detailed description of the same here- 309. Also, said sleeve plunger has radial ports inafter. 3l2 within the cylinder casing 20| and it will While my invention is capable of being carried be noted that the said sleeve plunger 309 exout in many different ways for the purpose of 20 tends, likewise, into the cylinder 298, the portion illustration I have shown only one embodiment within the cylinder 298 being constructed the of my invention in the accompanying drawings, in same as the portion thereof within the cylinder which I 291. A screw 3! 3 passes through the yoke 288 into Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section showing the use the sleeve plunger 309 to hold it in fixed relation of a hydraulic latch in an embodiment of my in regard thereto. Also, within each of the sleeve invention; v plungers 309 there is a valve operating rod 3M Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the form shown which contacts with the cross pin 285 and at its in Fig. 1; and other end has flutings 3|5 adjacent to a conical Fig. 3 is an enlarged section showing the lower outlet valve seat 3|6 on the inside of the sleeve middle and left-hand portion of the apparatus of plunger 309. A valve head 3" is adapted to seat Fig, 1, r on the conical valve seat 316, the valve head being In the embodiment of myinvention shown in located in a valve chamber 3| 8 adjacent to the the drawings, I have illustrated a 'form of hyscrew cap 310, which has a hollow stem 3I9 to redraulic latch or locking mechanism for mainceive a valve stem 320 which is integral with the taining a hand controlling lever I99, which may, 40 Valve head 3l1. A shoulder 32! on the valve stem for example, be located in a railway locomotive 320 is provided for supporting a coil spring 322 cab, and which is applicable for moving a locolocated around the hollow stem 3S9 so that the motive reverse gear, (not shown) to any desired efte d of said sp ing 322 seats against the cap adjusted position. In this instance, ashaft 200, screw 3 0- A Shown in e o e 28B and for operating the locomotive in reverse gear, is the sleeve plunger 309 have a lateral elongatedprovided within a casing 2M with abifurcated hole 323 through which the bolt 285 passes, so crank 219, two arms 280 and 28l of which are as to provide a slight lost motion between the provided with slots 282 and 283 to receive sliding, movement of the valve operating rod 3 M with resquare blocks 284 and 281 on a bolt 285 having a gard to the bifurcated crank 219 and the sleeve nut 286 thereon. The blocks 284 and 281 slide in plunger 309 so that when the bifurcated crank the recesses 282 and 283, respectively, and be." 219 is moved to the left or right, in Fig. 1, it tween the twoarms 280 and 28! there is ajyoke will first move the valve operating rod 3|4 to un member 288, through which the belt or crosspm seat the particular valve 311 before thesleeve, 285 passes, which extends into slots 289 andl290 plunger 309 is moved in the corresponding dion master cylinder pistons 29! and 292. In this rection in said figure. Without such previous '14 Claims. (Cl. 192-8) instance the pistons 2%" and 292 are located in cylinder blocks 293 and 294 having screw caps 295 and 296. The cylinder blocks 293 and 294 also contain within the same hydraulic latch cylinders 291 and 298, both of which are constructed alike and only one of which, therefore, will be described in detail. Each of these cylinders contains within the same a bushing 299 provided with an inlet passageway 300 connecting with a chammovement of the valve rod 3 being possible, the movement of the master cylinder plunger 29l towards the left or right in said figure would not unseat the particular valve 3H, so that the liquid in the latch cylinder 291 would be trapped therein to prevent the movement of the sleeve plunger 309 as well as the master cylinder piston 2!" to which it is attached until the hand lever use has been moved previously. In this way, the hydraulic latch cylinders 29'! and 298 and their pistons will hold the master cylinder pistons 290 and 291 in any adjusted position thus maintaining the adjusted position of the hand lever I 99 1mm said hand lever is again moved for the adjustment. of the position of the said locomotive reverse gear, for example. During any Withdrawal movement of the sleeve plunger 309 from its particular cylinder the liquid will enter from the casing 201- through the passageway 300, past the seal 303,. through chamber 305 and into the annular .chamher 306 to the hydraulic latch cylinder 291.

In the operation of the embodiment of my invention as shown in the drawings I have provided means for maintainin the adjusted position of the manual operating lever 999 with the aid. of the hydraulic latching or locking device which is. comprised of the two latching cylinders 291. and 298, having therein. the sleeve plunger 30% and the two valve members comprising conical valve seat 3 l6 and valve head 3 l 'l at each of the two terminal. portions of the said plunger 809. and the two valve operating rods 3% on either side of the.

manually operable bolt 2:85. The sleevev plunger 309 moves with the yoke 288 and with the master cylinder plunger 20% and 29E so that. the. pressure of the liquid exerted on the said master cylinder pistons cannot result, of itself, in displacing the said master cylinder pistons, nor in displacing the adjusted position of the radius rod 218 until the hand lever I99 is moved first manually. Owing to the elongated hole 323 the hand lever I09 first moves one or the other of the valveoperating rods 3M to unseat the outlet valve comprising the valve seat 3-10 and valve head 3|! so as to release the liquid past said valve through ports 3!! to the casing 20E. When the liquid in the other one of the cylinders 297, 298 is being drawn into its particular cylinder, this is accomplished by the entry of the liquid through the particular passageway 3'00 past the rubber seal inlet valve 303 and thence into the hydraulic latch chamber. By this means the locomotive reverse gear, for example, cannot be accidently moved out of adjustment by the forces exerted thereon unless the hand lever [99 is moved first to a new position of adjustment.

While I have described my invention above in detail I wish it to be understood that many changes maybe made therein without departing from the spirit of the same.

I claim:

1. A hydraulic latch comprising a cylinder having an inlet valve therein, a plunger longitudinally reciprocable therein, an inlet valve located around the outside of the plunger and seating, on. the cylinder, an outlet valve mounted on the plunger, a valve-unseating rod associated with the plunger and means for operating the plunger and valve-unseating rod independently of each other.

2. A hydraulic latch comprising a cylinder" having an inlet valve therein, a plunger longitudinally reciprocable therein, an inlet valve located around the outside of the plunger and seating on the cylinder, an outlet valve mounted on the plunger, 2. valve-unseating rod located within the plungerand means for operating the plunger and valve-unseating rod independently of each other comprising a lever having a positive connection to the valve-unseating rod and a lost motion connection to the plunger.

3. A hydraulic latching cylinder, a longitudinally reciprocable piston arranged to be locked in position therein, means for moving the piston, and. a hydraulic. latching means adapted to maintain the: piston, in a position into which it has been moved, comprising an inlet passageway for presvsure liquid leading to said cylinder, an inlet valve around the outside of the piston to control the inlet passageway, an' outlet passageway leading from said. cylinder, and valve means controlling said passageways.

4.. A hydraulic latching cylinder, a longitudinally reciprocable piston arranged to be locked in position therein, means for moving the piston, and, a hydraulic latching means adapted to maintain the piston in a position into which it has been moved until released. by the moving means, comprising an inlet passageway for pressure liquid leading to said cylinder, an inlet valve around the outside of the piston to control the inlet passageway, an outlet passageway leading from said cylinder, and valve means controlling said passageways.

5.. In combination, a movable element comprising a piston in a cylinder and means to maintain the adjusted position of said element including a hydraulic latch comprising a second cylinder having an inlet valve therein, a plunger longitudinally reciprocable therein having a lever connection to said piston, an outlet valve mounted on the plunger, a valve-unseal-ing rod associated with the plunger and, manual means for moving said,

element and operating the plunger and valveunseating rod independently of each other.

6. In combination, a movable element comprising a piston in a cylinder and means to maintain the adjusted position of said element including a hydraulic latch comprising a second cylinder having an inlet valve therein, a plunger longitudinally reciprocable. therein having a lever connecton to said piston, an outlet valve mounted on the plunger, a valve-unseating rod located within the plunger and manual means for movin said element and operating the plunger and valveunseating rod independently of each other comprising a manually operable lever having a positive connection to the valve-unseating rod and a lost motion connection to the plunger by the first mentioned lever.

7. In combination, a piston in a cylinder, a hydraulic latching cylinder, a longitudinally reciprocable plunger arranged to be locked in position therein, manual means, having a lostmotion connection to the plunger and a yoke, for moving the piston, and a hydraulic latching means connected to said manual means, adapted to maintain the piston in a position into which it.

has, been moved, comprising an inlet passageway forpressure liquid leading to said cylinder, an outlet passageway leading from said cylinder through said piston and valve means controlling said passageways.

8. In combination, a piston in a cylinder, a

hydraulic latching cylinder, a longitudinally reciprocable plunger arranged to be locked in position therein, manual means, having a lost-motion connection to the plunger and a yoke, for. moving} the piston, and a. hydraulic latching, meansconnected to. said, manual..means, adapted. to maintain the piston in a position into which it has been moved until released. by the moving.

means, comprising an inlet passageway for pressure liquid leading to said cylinder, an outlet passageway leading from said cylinder through said piston, and valve means controlling said passageways.

9. A hydraulic latch comprisinga cylinder, a plunger longitudinally reciprocable therein having a lip-seal inlet valve, having an elastic lip between the plunger and cylinder, a valve movable relatively to the plunger, an outlet valve-um seating rod associated with the plunger and means for operating the plunger and valve-unseating rod independently of each other.

10. A hydraulic latch comprising a cylinder, a plunger longitudinally reciprocable therein having a lip-seal inlet valve, having an elastic lip between the plunger and cylinder, a valve movable relatively to the plunger, an outlet valve-unseating rod located within the plunger and means for operating the plunger and valve-unseating rod independently of each other comprising a lever having a positive connection to the valveunseating rod and a lost motion connection to the plunger.

11. In combination, a hydraulic latching cylinder, a longitudinally reciprocable piston arranged to be locked in position therein, manual means for moving the piston, a hydraulic latching means connected to said manual means, adapted to maintain the piston in a position into which it has been moved, comprising an inlet passageway for pressure liquid leading to said cylinder, an outlet passageway leading from'isaid cylinder through said piston and inlet and outlet valve means controlling said passageways, the inlet valve being carried by said piston, a second hydraulic latching cylinder into which the said latching piston also extends to form a second locking piston therein, said second cylinder having an inlet passageway for pressure liquid also an outlet passageway for liquid, an inlet valve being carried by said piston, and a sump between the two cylinders into which said outlet passageways discharge.

12. In combination, a hydraulic latching cylinder, a longitudinally reciprocable piston arranged to be locked in position therein, manual means for moving the piston, a hydraulic latching means connected to said manual means, adapted to maintain the piston in a position into which it has been moved until released by jthe moving means, comprising an inlet passageway for pressure liquid leading to said cylinder, an outlet passageway leading from said cylinder through said piston and inlet and outlet valve means controlling said passageways, the inlet valve being carried by said piston, a second'hydraulic latching cylinder into which the said latching piston also extends to form a second locking piston therein, said second cylinder having an inlet passageway for pressure liquid also an outlet passageway for liquid, an inlet valve *being carried by said piston, and a sump between the two cylinders into which said outlet passageways discharge.

13. In combination, a hydraulic latching cylinder, a longitudinally reciprocable piston arranged to be locked in position therein, manual means for moving the piston, a hydraulic latching means connected to said manual means, adapted to maintain the piston in a position into which it has been moved, comprising an inlet passageway for pressure liquid leading to said cylinder, an outlet passageway leading from said cylinder through said piston and inlet and outlet valve means controlling said passageways, the inlet valve being carried by said piston, a second hydraulic latching cylinder into which the said latching piston also extends to form a second locking piston therein, said second cylinder having an inlet passageway for pressure liquid also an outlet passageway for liquid, an inlet valve being carried by said piston, and a sump between the two cylinders into which said outlet passageways discharge and in which the manual means is located.

14. In combination, a hydraulic latching cyl-,

inder, a longitudinally reciprocable piston arranged to be locked in position therein, manual means for moving the piston, a hydraulic latching means connected to said manual means, adapted to maintain the piston in a position into which it has been moved until released by the moving means, comprising an inlet passageway ,for pressure liquid leading to said cylinder, an

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 692,868 Lemp Feb. 11, 1902 752,491 Warren Feb. 16, 1904 966,750 Hunt Aug. 9, 1910 1,062,561 Williams et a1 May 20, 1913 2,109,114 Kerr Feb. 22, 1938 2,190,257 Clench Feb. 13, 1940 2,365,247 Carlton Dec. 19, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 710,182 France June 1, 1931 

